Arch support



A. KUSHINSKY ARCH May 14, 1935,

SUPPORT Filed July 19, 1933 IN VENT OR s/wnslfy ATTORNE;

Patented May 14, 1935 t UNITED STATES PATENT \OFFICE ARCH surron'r Albert Kushins y, Perth Amboy, N. J.

Application July 19, 1033, Serial No. 681,089

11 Claims. ,(01. 30-71) This invention relates in general to arch sup- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention ports and more particularly to a form of arch showing the parts in a position as when relieved support adapted not only to support but to meof foot pressure. chanically actuate such bones and muscles of the Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the longitudinal and transverse arches of the human parts in another position as/when actuated by 5 foot as may have become weakened as a result foot pressure. of excessive walking or standing, thereby creat- Figure 3 is a top plan view of the upper yield- ,mg a condition which is generally known as able plates. fallen arches or flat feet. Figure 4 is a top plan view of the lower sup- An object of the invention isto provide an arch porting member. 10

support that will exercise or -gently massage the Figure 5 is a top plan view of the arch supstructural portion of the oot'while a person is porting element.

attending to his or her regular duties so that it Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 may regain its normal healthy condition and perof Fig. 5 looking in the direction indicated by the mit the same to again function without the aid arrows. 15

, of any mechanical sustaining means. -With reference to the drawing, l0 designates The invention herein shown and described a lower supporting member which can constitute might be more correctly termed a natural arch the sole of a shoe or else be in the form of a relare-builder since it constitutes a form of mechanitively light plate to be inserted into the shoe.

'cal apparatus adapted to automatically cause the This member I0 is comparatively rigid and is pro- 20 longitudinal and transverse arches of the foot to vided on its upper surface with circular recesses be alternately elevated and lowered by the walk- H and 12 adapted to receive the compression ing movement or pressure of the foot thereupon springs l3 and I4. There is also formed on this in a manner as to produce a desirable fiexional upper surface a plurality of shallow grooves I6,

action upon the supporting muscles of the arch ll, l8 and I9 disposed respectively fore and aft 25 whereby the same will be beneficially exercised 'of the transverse arch center line w-b. These in addition to receiving the support usually afgrooves are in alignment with a plurality of simiforded bfy the conventional form of arch suplar grooves 2|, 22, 23, and 24 formed on the under Porter. surface of a two-piece plate comprising the for- A flexional action upon these foot muscles is ward portion 25 and the rearward portion 26, the so highly desirable since it will tend to so strengthen dividing line being indicated by ct-b. Upon this the muscles as to restore the foot to its former divided plate, the foot (not shown) normally usefulness. The common form of arch support, bears. generally p ed as t e only means for relief In the grooves l6 and I9 I have secured the from the excruciating pain to which persons with cylindrical rods 21 and 28 by means of rivets 35 fallen arches are subjected, does nothing further or screws 29 which extend through the lower to correct this condition than to provide a supmember l0. These rods respectively provide a D011; which s ot remedy this evil. With the fore and aft fulcrum point for the plates 25 and present invention however the beneficial exercis- 26 by engaging in the corresponding grooves 2| ing f thes? muscles in addition to the Sustai g and 24 thereof and in which they are free to ro- 40 feature afforded will tend to restore the foot in tate when the two upper plates 25 and 26 are a short time to Such a Condit on that the use actuated in a manner hereinafter described. of any artificial correcting. means may be dis- The plates 25 and 26 are also provided on their pensed with. upper surface with grooves 3| and 32 which are The present embodiment features a yieldable aligned with similar grooves 33 and 34 formed 45 plate actuated by the combined pressure of the in the under surface of an arch supporting eleheel and the ball of the foot in a manner as to ment 36; Cylindrical rods 31 and 38 are disflex the longitudinal and transverse arches conposed in these grooves in a manner as to prostantly during walking. vide pivot means for the arch member 36 to rock Various other objects and advantages will be upon. The combined parts are held in their rela- 50 in part obvious from an inspection of the accomtive positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by a tension panying drawing and a careful consideration of spring 39 which is preferably secured to the the following particular description and claims of arch member 36 by a screw 4| and to the lower one form of mechanism embodying my invention. member by a cross-bar 42. This spring extends In the drawing: through a clearance hole 43 so that it will not 55 interfere with the rocking movement of the fore and aft plates 25 and 26.

The compression springs l3 and H are interposed between the lower member IO and the fore and aft plates in the manner shown and tend to rock the upper plates on their fulcrums 21 and 28 to the position shown in Fig. 1 which represents the position of the elements when the foot is raised from the ground. As the foot is brought to bear upon the structure as a whole, the forward plate 25 will be depressed by the ball of the foot and the rear plate 26 by the heel of the foot. The pressure thus created will cause the arch piece 36 to be elevated in a manner as to press against the arch of the foot as will be readily understood. As the pressure of the foot is relieved the springs I3 and [4 will again cause the ends of the fore and aft plates to be raised to the position of Fig. 1 and the arch piece lowered.

A cover portion 45 may be formed of relativelysoft material such as leather and applied to the parts in any suitable manner.

It is obvious from the foregoing description that the device represented in the drawing will effect a flexional action upon the foot by the alternate raising and lowering of the arch member 36 thus tending to exercise both the longitudinal and the transverse arches of the foot in a manner so much desired.

Whereas I have shown and described a specific form of fulcrum and pivot means together with other less essential details of construction, I do not wish to convey the thought that the proper function of the invention is dependent upon the particular form of fulcrum and pivot means shown in the drawing since it is obvious that mechanical equivalents can readily be employed in place thereof.

The extra grooves l1, l8 and 22, 23 are for the purpose of changing the position of the-rods 21 and 28 to a location more adjacent to the center line ar-b when so desired thus making the fulcrum points adjustable which will efiect the movement of the arch member 36 to a greater or lesser degree.

Variations may be resorted to within thescope of the invention and portions of the improvements may be used without the others whilst not departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

'1. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a substantially rigid base member, a pair of lever elements fulcrumed thereupon and adapted for actuation by the human foot during its natural operation of walking, and an arch supporting element having a loose connection with said lever elements, and adapted to be alternately elevated and lowered by the action of said elements in a manner as to exercise the foot constantly during walking.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a substantially rigid base member, of a pair of lever elements fulcrumed thereupon and adapted for actuation by the human foot during its natural operation of walking, and an arch supporting element pivoted upon each of said lever elements for actuation thereby in a manner as to be alternately elevated and lowered during the operation of walking.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a substantially rigid base member, of a pair of lever elements fulcrumed thereupon and adapted for actuation by the human foot during its natural operation of walking. an arch supporting element pivoted upon each of said lever elements for actuation thereby in a manner as to be alternately elevated and lowered during the operation of walking, and adjusting means adapted to regulate the leverage of said pair of elements.

4. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, means adapted to be placed under the sole of the human foot for actuation thereby in a manner as to exercise the arch thereof, comprising an arch supporting element, flexible means operatively related to said element and having longitudinal extremities that are depressible by the pressure of the foot in a manner such as to elevate an inner portion thereof together with said element, and resilient means to lower said arch supporting element when said pressure is relieved.

5. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, individual fore and aft leverage means adapted to be actuated by the combined pressure of the ball and heel of the human foot, and an arch supporting element articulated to said leverage means in a manner such as to cause said element to be forcefully elevated thereby against the foot when said pressure is applied..

6. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, individual fore and aft leverage means adapted to be actuated by the combined pressure of the ball and heel of the human foot, resilient means adapted to return the same to an initial position when the pressure is relieved, and an arch supporting element articulately mounted upon said leverage means in a manner such, as to cause said element to be forcefully elevated thereby against the foot when said pressure is applied.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a substantially rigid base member having a contour approximating the sole of the human foot, of a pair of lever elements approximating the form of the base member and disposed thereupon; said pair of lever elements arranged in adjoining end to end relation, a fulcrum for each element connecting with said base and adapted to cause an elevation of the inner adjoining portions of said elements when the outer extremities thereof are depressed, adjusting means for said fulcrums, and an arch supporting element pivoted upon both of said lever elements directly over the adjoining portions in a manner as to be actuated thereby.

8. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a relatively rigid means adapted to be placed under the sole of the human foot, 2. yieldable means mounted thereupon for actuation by the combined pressure of the ball and heel of the foot, and means pivoted upon said yieldable means to bear under the arch of the foot to a greater degree as said pressure is increased, and means adapted to adjust the amount of pressure effective upon said pivoted means.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a relatively rigid base member, of

a divided upper plate comprising fore and aft adjoining portions each fulcrumed upon said base member at a point intermediate its longitudinal ing a point of juncture adjacent the longitudinal arch region of the foot, an arch supporting element pivoted upon said fore and aft portions for vertical movement, a fulcrum for each portion connecting the same to the base member; said fulcrums being adjustableto a position nearer or more remote from said juncture so as to vary the degree of vertical movement of said element, resilient compression means eflective to normally cause a depression of said element, and a yielding tension means connected to said element and to said base member for the maintenance of all of the parts in their eflective relation.

11. In apparatus of the class described, in com- 7 bination, means adapted to be placed under the sole of the human foot for actuation thereby in a manner as to exercise the arch portion thereof, said means comprising an arch supporting element, and fore and aft flexible members depressible at their extremities and articulated intermediate said extremities to said arch supporting element in a manner as to elevate the same when said extremities are depressed.

ALBERT KUSHINSKY. 

